Process of forming electrodes



OCII. 29, 1929. I s c oss E 1,733,866

PROCESS OF FORMING ELECTRODES Filed Nov. 26. 1926 1' f ii 5/ 2.5 /5

Patented Get. 29, IQZQ entree stares arrests rarest eerie PROCESS @E FORMING ELECTRODES Application filed November 26, 19%, Serial No. 150,955, and in Australia December 1, i925.

The Objects of this invention include the production of improved primary cells for which purpose I employ a new process.

These improved cells have higher electromotive "force than any others I know of similar type and are more durable, and relatively cheaper. One characteristic of the invention is that the depolarizing compounds are located so as to secure increased efiiciency.

In my cell one electrode has the form of a cylinder and relatively thereto the other electrode, which is of any suitable form, is supported in any suitable manner. The condition of the particles of the matter composing the cylindrical electrode, is one of particularly close association,-more so than it they were consolidated by ordinary pressure, or by flow moulding, and yet the particles are not crushed or disintegrated to an effect consolidation. To attain the improved relationship of the particles I locate them centrifugally.

In known wet cells, a carbon cylindrical element is employed having a depolarizer,

within which is a retaining wall, but in my construction such a wall is not required.

I describe my invention herein with the aid of the accompanying drawings, but the forms illustrated are examples only, as other so useful forms are producible while keeping within the scope of what is hereinafter claimed.

Inthe drawings Figure 1 is a side View, partly in section, of a moulding machine carrying a mould, part of an electrode being shown therein.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of an electrode having a depolarizer--deposited therein, and shows also a temporary mould 4o ing ring for locating the depolarizer.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a cell embodying the electrode of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of an electrode for'another type of cell. Figure 5 is a sectional view of a cell embodying the electrode of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of a cell in which the electrode forms the cell casing.

Machines for depositing plastic material' centrifugally to form concrete pipes and a feed openin other articles for example are well known, and I use any suitable centrifugal moulding machine, that shown in Figure 1 being an example. It has a shaft S carried in bearings B, and has a drive pulley D. At one end of the shaft is a plate P which by means of connecting rods supports a plate P having 0. The rods T carry end rings It, R a apted to locate an :element in WhlCh a layer of material is to be deposited and consolidated; such an element is for example a. mould M. In some cases I make the mould of easily destructible non-absorbent material, for example cardboard coated or impregnated with a suitable substance such as parafiin wax or oil. When the mould body is of material which is not to be destroyed, I utilize it as a cell exterior which may be an electrode.

In Figures 4 to 6 the electrode is suitably made as by spinning sheet metal.

When the element to be moulded contains carbon, such as powdered coke, retort carbon, or carbonized lignite, with or without graphite, I mix such material with a binder and liquid producing'a mixture of suitable consistency, for example about that of cream. Binders may vary, the material used being adapted to allow of the herein described baking or other subsequent treatment of the moulded element.

I bake the cylinder in some cases, and in those cases the binder may be flour and/or molasses and water, oil, or tar. When I do not bake the cylinder a suitable binder is 1% solution of grass tree resin in a solvent, alcohol being suitable,

My cylindrical ,electrode is in some cases impervious to moisture, its material being finely ground,-to.pass for example through a sieve 015 180 meshes to the lineal inch. Such anelectrode withstands contact with liquid, and I use it in some cases as a cell, casing. I utilize one form of my cylinder within a casing in which arrangement porosity of the cylinder is optional and in some circumstances isdesirable. A porous cylinder is used by me for example as a substitute for an ordinary porous potof aknown double fluid cell. To make porous cylinders the car- 50 meshes to thelineal inch. One mixture I employ to produce a cylinder contains ground coke, 8 parts, flour 1 part, molasses 1 part, and enough water to produce suitable consistency.

Sufiicientof the mixture is fed into the mould which is then revolved at suitable speed, or'the material is fed into a rotating mound, with the result in each case that a wall E of the thickness desired is centrifugally produced.

During the moulding I apply heat to the mould interior or the inner surface of cylindrical wall E in some cases for a short period, and for this purposean electric heating element H is effective. Such heating produces on the moulded matter a hardened interior surface or skin. 1

- When the material is sufiiciently consolidated the rotation is sto ped, and the mould with its contained cylinder is removed. When the mould is to be consumed by heat the latter with its contained cylinder is baked as by beingplaced in a stove or kiln and raised to about red heat so that the mould or casing becomes charred and destroyed, this procedure avoiding that deformation of the cylinder produce.

When the cylinder is which some other casings would to contain as an internal layer or facing a solid or plastic deof a porous pot in a cell of Leclanch typ polarizer, I place a temporary mould ring M in the cylinder, set the latter in a moulding machine, and then deposit a depolarizer E centrifugally,-ensuring close association of the depolarizer with the electrode and increasing the efliciency of-Qthe cell.

As shown in Figure 3 an element E having an internal depolarizer E is usable instead c. J is a jar enclosing a cylindrical electrode E, which is supported, suitably by means of for example, a collar C to which a terminal C is attached. i The other electrode E is supported about centrally of the cylindrical electrode, by a cover J which carries the terminal J In cells in which the cylindrical electrode is of metal, such as copper or metal coated with copper, I centrifugally deposit a depolarizing lining comprising metallic oxide, for example copper oxide, with other suitable material, as graphite and a binder. Any

preventing displacement of the depolarizer. v

mmediately after the depolarizer is depositedit is advantageous to ake and set it at a temperature of or above for example 450 dev,grees. To prevent L undesirable absorption electrode e which carries a centrifugally de posited depolarizer e located by casing walls 6.

As a reinforcement and conductor, I use at will suitable means within the depolarizer as metallic wire 1'. e" is an air tight lid having insulated from it a terminal stem 9' to carry a frame 7' on which is an inner cylindrical electrode e of suitable material as zinc centrifugally formed, in some cases.

It will be evident that to easilf produce an inert cell the foregoing information will suffice to those who are skilled in the art. Such cells are within the ambit of this in vention.

I claim:

1. The process of forming an electrode by producing centrifugal deposition of matter, hardening the deposited matter and combining a depolorizer with it by centrifugal deposition. v

2. The process of forming an electrode by producing centrifugal deposition of matter, hardening the deposited matter, combining a depolarizer with the hardened electrode by centrifugal deposition, and moulding an end of the depolarizer by means of a ring within the electrode.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand. i

JAMES STANLEY CROSSLEY.

suitable binding is usable as whiting and In Figures 4 and 5, e, is a metal electrode;

This is placed in a moulding machine and the deplorarizer e is deposited centrifugally, a rib 6 and an inturned and e, locating and 

